Seniors Boyd, Merrigan set meet records; ‘Baler boys earn team
title
Morgan Hill – Broken records, a victory lap, some disappointment.
When all was said and done at the Tri-County Athletic League track and field championships Saturday, there was a little bit of it all.
The San Benito boys took home the team title, having earned 153 points to beat out Palma (139.50), and celebrated with a victory lap around the Live Oak track.
There was a lot to celebrate: Rigo Vasquez’s wins in the 800- and 1600-meter runs. Todd Merrigan breaking his own school record – and the TCAL meet record – in the pole vault. Jeff Weltz winning the 100 and 200. A sweep of the first four places in the high jump. The arrival of the team’s young performers – particularly in triple jump and long jump – who stepped up to score some vital points for the team win.
“From Wednesday (at the TCAL trials), we knew it was possible,” said San Benito boys’ coach Iran White. “That’s why it was so important to get in the finals…For every spot you have, that’s one another team doesn’t.”
Added White, “This is what we set out to day when we came into the season and now it’s come to fruition. They’ve trained hard and now, CCS.”
Unfortunately for San Benito, there was no team victory lap on the girls’ side. The ‘Baler girls were unable to stop Salinas in the team points race in the culmination of the TCAL season rivalry between the two teams. The ‘Balers’ exciting come-from-behind victory over the Cowboys in the 4×400-meter relay in the final race of the day was too little, too late. Salinas defeated San Benito 155-125 for first and second place.
Individually, however, senior Amanda Boyd had as big of a day as they come. Boyd won the 800 (2:18.56), 1600 (5:12.59) and 3200 (11:40.51). More impressively, all of those times were meet records which broke marks previously held by Live Oak senior star Cobbie Jones, who has missed most of the season with injury.
Boyd ran away with the 800-meter title, but three Salinas runners rounded out the top four in the race. San Benito’s point total took a crucial hit in that event, according to girls’ head coach Julio Trinidad.
“That 800 was the big one,” he said. “(Salinas) knows they’re going to let Amanda Boyd go, but they stacked up the two, three, four and five runners. They got close to 20 points on that one.”
Trinidad, who also coaches the pole vaulters, was also particularly pleased with Merrigan’s vault performance. The senior surpassed his old school record of 15-3 feet and won with a 15-5 mark.
And the cause of the record-breaking day?
“I have no idea. I went to bed at like 3 (am). It must have been just a good day,” Merrigan said.
And some newly acquired equipment.
“I just got a bunch of new poles. That’s pretty much been helping me out,” he added.
Up next for the ‘Balers is Saturday’s CCS semifinals meet. The top three finishers in each boys’ event and top two finishers in each girls’ event at the league finals automatically advanced. Others may advance as well, should automatic qualifiers decide to drop events to focus on others.
For San Benito’s complete meet results, visit www.lhs.fuhsd.org/athletics/track/2006/tcalres.htm.
